On the 26th and 27th of May 2020 members and partners of the Don Bosco Network (DBN) including the Councilor for Missions Fr Alfred Maravilla, Councilor for Youth Ministry Fr Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, Economer General Bro Jean Paul Muller and the Coordinator of Mission Offices Fr George Menamparampil, took part in the annual General Assembly and Working Group meetings online.

On the 26th May Advocacy planning meeting discussions were led by the SDB UN representative, Don Bosco International (DBI), Don Bosco Green Alliance (DBGA) and IIMA Human Rights Office of the Salesian Sisters FMA. Participants shared their experiences and planned cooperation between official representation at United Nations, European Union, African Union and other international forums. Advocacy online workshop for Salesian PDOs was planned for 9 and 10 June 2020.

During the DBN General Assembly, Development Education and Development Cooperation Working Group meetings 25 representatives of Don Bosco organizations from Europe, USA, India and Africa discussed COVID-19 impact on programs, projects and operations, effective coordinated response to this pandemic and plans for new post emergency situation. Working together DBN organization continue to provide effective support to Don Bosco Mission Worldwide in this difficult time for all.

Recommendations to prevent contagions, suggestions on how to continue helping the population in different local contexts, and finally several ideas for drawing lessons from this pandemic: these are the fundamental elements of a fraternal letter sent by Bursar General, Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, to the Salesian Provincials around the world due to Covid-19’s advancement at the global level.

“Dear Provincial, I hope you have been able to make your way back home. You can imagine how concerned we are about the situation …”, begins Bro Muller. He then goes on to indicate several of the most well-known and basic hygienic actions for one’s personal protection and the containment of infections, before suggesting a number of specific preventive measures for the Salesian religious communities themselves.

“Our models are Don Bosco and his boys at the time of a cholera epidemic. More recently, we’ve had our brave confreres in Sierra Leone and Liberia at the time of Ebola.”

A few weeks ago I had opportunity to attend the “Forum of Catholic Inspired NGOs” in Rome. Seven Don Bosco organisations took part in this Forum. The subject was “Toward a more inclusive society”. I was impressed during the working group sessions by the idea that we are all on the same journey – faith based NGOs and civil society organisations – for the sake of human dignity and leaving no one behind! This is exactly what Don Bosco asks of us on behalf of the young vulnerable people of our countries. And, as he used to say, “alone I cannot do it!”. Another important meeting was the Energy Forever Conference, organised by the Mission Department; DBN took part in it as well. I would like to quote a sentence from the Final Statement: “The Preventive System integral to the Salesian educative approach brings together four dimensions: the educative, religious, cultural and vocational. Ecology and care for our common home are constituent parts of this approach with its aim of holistic human growth and development.” This year is a very important year, with the XXVIII General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation, in Turin. The title of this GC seems very prophetic to me: “What kind of Salesians for the youth of today?” Looking at inclusion – which is rather different from integration – I would like to express our wishes for 2020 to reach better unity and brotherly partnerships, with all the partners of the DBN, the DBN members, the Mission Offices, FMA, SDB, the PDOs…Looking forward to continue our journey together this year.

5-7.12.2019 Forum of Catholic Inspired Organizations took place in Rome at Villa Aurelia. The Forum meets every 2 years and works closely with Vatican Dicastery for Human Integral Development. For last two years the Forum worked in seven working groups: 1) Human Rights, 2) Development and environment, 3) Health, 4) Education, 5) Family, 6) Migration, 7) Youth. The expert working groups prepared a publication: Towards a More Inclusive Society which will guide Catholic organizations in advocacy work in relevant topics on national and international levels. 135 participants from over 100 Catholic organizations and networks took part in the Forum meeting which was concluded with the audience with Pope Francis. Representatives from Don Bosco Network, Don Bosco International, Don Bosco Youth Net, VIS, Misiones Salesianas, IIMA Human Rights Office of the Salesian sisters and Don Bosco Green Alliance took active part in the work of the working groups and in the Forum meeting at Villa Aurelia in Rome.

The Economer General’s Office, together with various members of the “Don Bosco Network” and the Missions Sector, have organized an international Salesian conference on green, clean and renewable energy; its title: “Energy Forever”. Taking place 26-27 November, in Rome, the conference intends to adopt Sustainable Development Goal No. 7 on clean and accessible energy and, in light of “COP25” (25th United Nations Conference on climate change, scheduled in Madrid from 2 to 13 December), focussing on the definition of a common perspective on this issue and the adoption of concrete commitments.Read more »

Educational initiatives in Ghana, Haiti, South Sudan and Spain illustrate the work of Salesians around the globe that highlights this year’s theme in support of young teachers.

Rome (Oct. 5, 2019) The Don Bosco Network joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in honoring World Teachers’ Day celebrated each year on Oct. 5. The day honors the vital role that teachers play in the lives of their students. Since 1994, World Teachers’ Day has been held annually and commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.Read more »

While cleaning up waste, and beautification of the environment are important and essential practices, unless there is a systemic change that leads to the reduction of waste generation, these efforts will be futile. Cleanup activities have to be supported by concrete steps that lead to a drastic reduction in the quantum of waste generated, and we need to ultimately change public mindsets to ensure that the need for cleaning becomes a thing of the past.

With the above background, we can focus on a campaign to reduce the waste generation within the member organizations, with a 45-day long rollout, focusing on waste reduction. We will focus on reducing the quantum of waste generated by the organisation during August and September, with the 3rd week of September named as the ‘Zero Waste Week’

World Cleanup Day

World Cleanup Day is celebrated on the 21st of September. The first world clean up day was celebrated on 15th September 2018, wherein 18 million people from over 158 countries took part. Over 88500 tonnes of waste was collected. Members of the Don Bosco Green Alliance also participated in this event last year.

This year, the World Clean Up Day coincides with world peace day. As per their mission statement, the movement is not solely about cleaning up trash, but about raising global awareness and implementing lasting changes to end the global waste epidemic.

From Tuesday, July 9, to Thursday, July 18, the annual High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) took place at United Nations headquarters in New York City. The program attracted more than 2,000 participants, including some 100 government ministers. Over 40 countries have presented their Voluntary National Reviews.

The HLPF is the main U.N. platform for follow-up and review of the progress made toward the 2030 Agenda, consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were set out in 2015.

The theme of this year’s meeting was “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.” Included on the program were an in-depth review of SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). In addition SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) is reviewed every year.Read more »

Don Bosco organizations together with Misean Cara and other partners are holding 2 side events during the Volontary National Reviews at High Level Political Forum at United Nations headquaters in New York

The In the last newsletter I had the pleasure to underline the importance of synergies and effective cooperation between Salesian Family organisations and networks. Since the start of this year we continue on this path of cooperation and sharing of good practices. In February in the Advocacy Working Group at UPS we had the opportunity to learn more about Don Bosco Green Alliance, rooted in Laudato Si. I really am convinced that we should take more attention to this ecological initiative. “Everything is connected with everything” says the Pope. Social and ecological crises are not two different crises, but just two sides of the same coin. If we want to fight for the marginalized youth and thus fight poverty, we have to take care of our “mother earth”. During last General Assembly of the DBN we approved the changes of the DBN Bylaws in order to be in closer link to the Salesian Congregation, including the FMA sisters. “Why not invite them next time?” as Br Jean-Paul Müller suggested it. The presence and participation of Don Bosco Tech Africa is another good example of better integration through this project of the Congregation within our DBN network. Yes, we want to continue to support regional networks with our DBN network, we want continue to work on being a real Salesian Congregation network. In this perspective I am convinced that we can contribute to the theme of next General Chapter in 2020: “What kind of salesians for the youth of today?”.

On the 18th and 19th of June 2019 on behalf of Don Bosco International and Don Bosco Network, Wojciech Mroczek DBN Coordinator attended European Development Days EDD organized by European Commission in Brussels. The main theme of the event was: Addressing inequalities: Building a world which leaves no one behind. 67000 participants from all over the world representing implementing and funding development programs organizations, governments and EU representatives. You can find the full program of events and discussions on the EDD official website: https://eudevdays.eu DBN Coordinator actively participated in the following thematic discussions:

Getting it right for children: Meaningful participation and equal opportunities

What is religion got to do with it?

Launching SDG Watch Europe report on SDG 10

The role of young people in the peace processes

Flexible skills development for vulnerable young people

Climate change: Finding the path towards an inclusive and green transition leaving no one behind

Migrants contribution to development in the Global North (organized by Caritas Europe)

Very meaningful and inspiring discussions related to the Don Bosco Mission worldwide.

Don Bosco Network and the Don Bosco Green Alliance as well as the international community is celebrating World Environment Day. The day, which is celebrated annually on June 5, will be hosted by China this year and focus on the theme of “Air Pollution.”

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UN Environment), approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with nearly 4 million of these deaths occurring in Asia-Pacific. World Environment Day 2019 urges governments, industry, communities and individuals to come together to explore renewable energy and green technologies and improve air quality in cities and regions across the world.

UN Environment has noted that 92 percent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air. Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs. In addition, ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 percent by 2030.Read more »

Young people across the world are today raising their voices in anger protest! They are legitimately upset because their lives and their future are being adversely affected by climate change, pollution and a variety of other environmental factors. As they demand change, they also pledge to make the necessary changes in their own lives to improve the environmental scenario. These sentiments of young people are well described by Pope Francis when he says: “Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.” (LS 13). Further, the Pope states that “young people have a new ecological sensitivity and a generous spirit, and some of them are making admirable efforts to protect the environment” (LS 209).Read more »

TVET Initiative and Circular Migration – A Critical Intervention for Empowering Young Migrants.

Mr. Agostino Sella, Director, Associazione Don Bosco 2000 – TVET/CNOS speaking at the Youth led side event during the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York highlighted the critical and important role the Salesians of Don Bosco was playing to empower young migrants by providing them employment oriented vocational training. This process he said enabled young migrants to acquire skills that they could then use to empower their communities in their countries of origin. Calling this process “Circular Migration” he said that such an intervention is important in addressing the global challenge of migration. Agostino was one of the panelists at the side event: Youth Empowered! Enabling Youth Through Social Protection: Education, Employment, Environment.Read more »

On 11 and 12 February, coordinated by Don Bosco Network with the support of Don Bosco International and Don Bosco – United Nations, the annual gathering of organizations dealing with advocacy and campaign with a Salesian approach has taken place for the sixth time. The meeting was presided by Fr Guillermo Basañes, Missions Councillor, and Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry. This edition dealt with several fixed points: sharing 2018’s advocacy initiatives, working in common topics, such as Migrations, human-trafficking and Sustainable Development Goals; but also with a few novelties: two representatives of Don Bosco Green Alliance presented their ecological initiative rooted in Laudato Si’ and youth engagement, while AFW province sent a representative, Benson Osei-Savio Boateng, for the “DBYNWA” (Don Bosco Youth Net West Africa), who shared their many activities in the field, and so for the first time counted on the presence of African representatives. The last novelty was the visit on the morning of the 12th to the Vatican Dicastery of Human Integral Development, in order to get to know their work and see possible synergies with the different socio-political initiatives they are carrying out.

The meeting ended with the exchange of best practices and materials in the field of Development Education. The advocacy meeting grows year after year, as well as the number of joint initiatives developed together.

Don Bosco:
Missionary of the Young

Saint John “Don” Bosco truly lived his life for others—especially the poor, downtrodden young men living on the streets of Turin, Italy, near where he was born.

By the mid-19th century, thousands of these boys had traveled from the rural countryside, seeking better opportunities in a newly booming industrial city. But Turin wasn’t ready for them. Inadequate housing options, and a strained social support system, meant that almost as many landed in overcrowded slums—where crime, disease and despair ran rampant. Many youth roamed the streets and were a menace to society with their unruly behavior.Read more »

As you will read in this newsletter Don Bosco Network continues to facilitate synergy and effective cooperation between Salesian Family organizations and networks from different SDB regions and continents at the service of Don Bosco Mission for young people. Working together as one family we are more effective.

Recently we have also started participation in the work of the Forum for Catholic NGOs based in the Vatican. As a faith based/Catholic/Salesian civil society organization we ensure that young people in need of support are included in the international policy of the Church and Civil Society. Working in partnership with the Church, governments and civil society organizations provide better opportunity for sustainable development and assurance that young people in need “are not left behind”.Read more »

The 73rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations opens in New York. The Salesians actively participate through an intense activity of advocacy, and are at work in this and other international organizations where it is possible to have the voice of the young heard, bringing to the attention of political decision-makers the needs and expectations of the poorest and most marginalized young. What does doing “advocacy” mean in the Salesian key? But above all, why is this theme imposed today on the reflections of the Congregation and of the Salesian Family? Trying to answer these and other similar questions is the Position Paper entitled “What does advocacy mean according to a Salesian perspective”, recently adopted by the Rector Major and by the General Council of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The text, drawn up and beginning with the contributions of various Salesian NGOs together with an Expert Group of “Don Bosco International”, first defines the concept of ‘advocacy’ as a “process to support people and enable them to express their point of view, their concerns, gain access to information and services, promote and protect their rights and responsibilities, examine choices and options.”Read more »

What can we do to protect and respect God’s astonishing creation…the planet Earth? At times, any effort seems futile; the constant barrage of bad news — worsening smog, melting polar ice, floating islands of plastic waste — is disheartening. In India, the “Don Bosco Green Alliance” is countering this narrative with a message of hope, and providing youth with the resources and tools for change.

Formed this past December in Mumbai, the Alliance seeks to support Salesian-led schools as they shift to an educational model designed in the spirit of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si.“Rampant development and construction is ruining the natural environment around us,” says Father Maria Arokiam Kanaga, regional councilor for the Salesian province of South Asia. “We must teach our students to return to the Garden of Eden, the paradise for which God created us, where there is harmony between God, man and nature. We need to make a paradigm shift now. In all our educational institutions, we need to increase eco-based education, and create a love of nature in our students.”Read more »

The Don Bosco Network has been very busy the last few months with a number of important meetings and events (which are summarized below in this newsletter). The good news is the cooperation and networking between Salesian Family or-ganizations is improving. Only when we work in synergy, mutual trust and support we can ensure that the Don Bosco mission for young people will be long–lasting and sustainable with great positive impact in the lives of young people worldwide.

We are happy to welcome a new member to DBN: SAVIO from Slovakia. We are happy to see great interest from other Salesian organizations to cooperate and network with us through our online platform and other programs and projects. With a new board of directors and a new strategic plan for next 3 years, we hope to be of even better service to the Don Bosco mission. The main focus points for us in next 3 years are:

1) communication and synergy (including the online platform);

2) capacity building (PDOs, TVET…), effective support to SDB in emergency situations and training on prepared-ness for natural disasters; and

3) advocacy, development education and missionary ani-mation.

Thematic working groups are effective tool to achieve good results and impact.

I would like to conclude with a phrase from our mission state-ment: Youth at the heart of development! Let us remember this in all our activities.

In 2017, due to wars, violence and persecution, there were 68.5 million people forced to flee their homes, with more than half being minors (53%); of these, about 40 million were displaced within their own countries and 25.4 moved abroad. For the Salesians of Don Bosco, who have always worked in support of the neediest of young people, the data published for the World Refugee Day by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) acts as new impetus for their commitment in the field.

The action of the Salesians is multi-faceted and takes place across the globe. To name a few, among the many:Read more »

Bangalore Rular Educational and Development Society (BREADS) of Salesians of Don Bosco Bangalore province in India produced short films dedicated to advocacy as a part of their Children Rights CREAM programme. you can view films: against child marriage, against child labour, for playground, demanding teacher in the school in the links below:

The fifth advocacy meeting for Salesian organizations took place on the 26th of February 2018 at Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy. The meeting was organized by Don Bosco Network (DBN) and supported by Don Bosco International (DBI). The meeting saw the participation of General Councillors for Missions and Youth Ministry, Fr. Guillermo Basañes and Fr. Fabio Attard. In the meeting, participants included over 20 representatives of Salesian organisations who shared their advocacy actions in several fields. Among the topics discussed were the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Migration. this second topic discussed the input from the Vatican Migrants’ and Refugees’ Section present in the Holy See document on UN Global Compacts. The meeting concluded with Fr. Attard’s presenting the Frame of Reference and its application to advocacy. The advocacy meeting grows year after year, as well as the number of joint initiatives developed together.

With these words Joanna Stożek addressed all in the newsletter of last July. As the new President of the DBN, I would like to use the same welcoming words in this final newsletter of the year, because we are all brothers and sisters in the same family! Looking back at the last year, I would like first to express again my thanks to Joanna. I hope to be a worthy successor to her. Secondly I would like to thank all of you for your dedicated work and cooperation in the projects and actions undertaken on behalf of young vulnerable persons in many countries, especially those in emergency situations. I think that we can be proud of the way we are helping young people to “stand up” and, often, to recover their dignity. I am sure that many are looking enviously at our work, in particular our data-base developed and coordinated by Wojciech. DBN was established to respond to the needs of young people but this would not be possible without the active partnership with the Salesian Congregation. Therefore we are happy to adopt our new DBN logo, expressing our partnership with the Salesian Congregation. It is not only a sort of ‘convenience’, but it is an expression of real cooperation! I hope that in the coming year we will continue to make progress along the lines which the logo expresses. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I send you and your families my best wishes for 2018.

After five years of service to DBN I handover the position of the President of the Board of Management to Peter Annegarn. Thank you so much for your cooperation over the past years. In particular thank you for your openness and every good word. Confronting the understanding of DBN, which was shaped over the last years, I would like to underline once more that DBN is an organization at the service of the Salesian Congregation. It is not a superstructure that usurps the right to manage others, but it is a body that supports others to communicate better together and meet on the planes where they can work together to achieve the goals set by the Congregation. This is not the direction I chose, but the fundamental decision of all the DBN members that formed the network. Therefore, let us not be afraid of each other, but let’s take advantage of opportunities that we can offer to each other.

Why is Don Bosco still important today? The audio statements of these young people show that Don Bosco is the opposite of old and rusty. His preventive approach and his loving kindness towards marginalized and excluded children and youths is as valid today as yesterday. This soundcloud was created in cooperation with Medienwerkstatt Bonn.

In cooperation with the German Grimme-Institut seven participants have produced this film in a “Digital Storytelling” workshop. They learned how to tell a good story and wrote their personal stories in small exercises, collected license free pictures and music. Finally they decided about the concept of this film and learned how to speak in front of a video camera and strengthened their digital competences.

In each one of us, as members of the Salesian Family, there is a desire to change the world for better, more friendly for young people. Driven by this desire, we act not only locally, but we are as well taking part in the initiatives on a global level. This time, in addition to cooperation in crisis situations, we have also included a Response to the Agenda for Sustainable Development till 2030, which was developed in cooperation with and on behalf of the Salesian Congregation. The objectives defined in the Agenda 2030 are in themselves good and consistent with what we do, especially in the field of education. I am sensitizing, however, to look at it critically, paying attention to the fact that the Agenda also includes elements which are not in agreement with our faith. In our actions, let us remember as well that we do not preach Sustainable Development Goals, but we proclaim Jesus Christ crucified. And even though we join in social work, our first goal is to proclaim the Gospel, from which good works follow, for it is the Gospel that gives our actions substance and meaning.

We realized this was the sole request of everyone we interviewed, praying for peace. It became clear what we were really set out to do here – relate Michał Król, Fr Roman Sikoń SDB and Darek Malejonek (Polish Singer) from Salesian Missionary Voluntary Service – Youth for the World (Poland) who have spent week in Syria. In choosing not to immerse ourselves in the convoluted political situation Syria found itself in, we focused instead on the lives of ordinary civilians and the Salesians who were trapped in the jaws of daily war, we also met with hundreds of young Syrians at the Salesian youth center who inspired us with their kindness and authenticity. They too did not hesitate to ask us to keep them in our intentions and prayers.

Every 5 October since 1994, UNESCO has celebrated World Teachers’ Day. Nowadays the teacher “has become a much criticized figure.” Speaking of teachers, Pope Francis has said they are “craftsmen of humanity! And builders of peace and of encounter” and he insisted, saying:” If only governments were aware of the magnitude of their task!” On the occasion of this World Teachers’ Day, the NGO “VIA DON BOSCO” decided to “draw attention to the right to access to education around the world.”

Students in Belgium are relieved at the sound of the bell after class but millions of children and adolescents around the world have no one to save them from “the well-known difficult conditions for teaching, such as overcrowded classrooms, or schools without teachers” says Christopher El Khazen, head of education for development of the NGO Via Don Bosco.Read more »

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants expresses the political will of world leaders to save lives, protect rights and share responsibility on a global scale. At the UN Summit on 19 September, world leaders elaborated on how each country will implement these commitments. Refugees, migrants, those who assist them, and their host countries and communities will all benefit if these commitments are met.

Salesians are in the frontline with regard to migrants/refugees, with special regard to young people and unaccompanied minors, as we are present in more than 130 countries around the world and we are in direct contact with the most vulnerable. Our concrete contribution besides being in those countries next to the people in need, is also to contribute in the elaboration of policies that can be effective and which can help in building up a more just and equitable world for all. As this is today one of the major issues tightly linked to poverty and conflicts, as also highlighted in the Agenda 2030 and in the SDGs, we consider it one of the arenas in which the Salesian charism can contribute, also in response to the words of Pope Francis inviting all to join efforts for fighting the unbalance of the present world.Read more »

In 1 year anniversary of acceptance by United Nations of Sustainable Development Agenda till 2030, Don Bosco Network is launching A Salesian Response to 2030 Agenda underlying commitment of Don Bosco organizations to the advancement of “poor and abandoned youth”. We welcome the agenda and present our recommendations to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, making sure that no one is left behind and that all the Rights of young people, especially the Right to Education, are being respected by all the Stakeholders. This response has been approved by the SDB General Council and will be presented in the coming months by Don Bosco organizations to international institutions (UN, EU) and respective countries’ governments. You can read and download the document in different languages in the links below. For more information contact Don Bosco Network Coordinator at: mroczek@donbosconetwork.org

On the 29th of August 2016 Angel Gudina representing Don Bosco International attended strategy meeting on the situation of children in migration. The meeting took place in the UN House in Brussels. EU, UN organizations and many international NGOs attended the meeting in order to prepare UN Summit, EU Councils and other civil society events on this issue.

This initiative is calling for attention that children travelling with their parents suffer the same conditions as adults including detention by immigration authorities. There are serious Children’s Rights concerns in these situations.

You can view the materials and documents from the meeting on our website resources.

The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) took place at UNHQ in New York, July 11-20, 2016. Fr Thomas Brennan, representing Salesian Missions at UN together with other faith based organizations, prepared 2 advocacy events: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation and Eliminating the Trafficking of Children and Youth.

You can find more information about the events in our website resources.

I am happy to share with you that thanks to the great openness of DBN members, General Council, Salesian Mission Offices and other Don Bosco institutions we are able to move forward with our cooperation for the good of the young people worldwide. Synergy between Salesian Family organizations in the field of Human Rights and Advocacy as well as Development Cooperation are good signs that as Don Bosco organizations we can work together to realize Don Bosco mission for young people in the present World. Our strength is in working together.

Social communication in modern world changes very fast and we need to adapt ourselves quickly. Our new website is a modern tool of safe exchange of information, learning experience, materials and resources; we present it at the service of Don Bosco organizations: NGOs, PDOs, Mission Offices worldwide. We encourage you to use it.Read more »

At its 32nd session (concluded last week), the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on”Youth and Human Rights“. IIMA and VIDES substantially contributed to the text of this resolution. After years of work, finally, this is the first resolution ever adopted by the HRC on the theme of youth and paves the way to future initiatives of the HRC on the topic. This achievement may encourage all of us to continue our work with and for young people. You can view the resolution in our website resources.

Last Thursday, October 29 there was an official handing over of the keys of Casa Don Bosco to the young people of Ukraine.

In the presence of the Commissioner General of EXPO, Bruno Pasquino, the Operation Manager of the Pavilion, Dr Ercole Lucchini, symbolically handed over the keys of Casa Don Bosco to Fr Yurij Smakous, SDB, Secretary and Delegate for Communications of the Salesian community in Ukraine. It was also an opportunity to toast the future, wishing the best to the Salesians throughout the world who strive daily to spread the educational method of Don Bosco. Don Bosco Network was an official partner of the salesian pavillon Casa Don Bosco on EXPO 2015

We should share information, projects, we should strengthen and foster communication – said Rector Major Ángel Fernández Artime while visiting Don Bosco Network Board Meeting that took place in Rome on Saturday, October 10, 2015.

DBN Board, including Peter Annegarn from VIA Don Bosco Belgium, Fr. Manuel de Castro from Jovenes y Desarrollo Spain, Fr. Guillermo Basañes Councilor for the Missions and two Don Bosco Network staff members met to discuss the current activities connected to the emergency response, upcoming advocacy meeting of the Salesian Family and further development of the Network under one DON BOSCO umbrella. Rector Major Ángel Fernández Artime passed his greetings and shared a few words of encouragement.Read more »

On September 25th 2015, 193 world leaders committed to 17 goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End extreme poverty.Fight inequality & injustice.Fix climate change. Sustainable Development Goals that will govern the international action in the post-2015 period were adopted by the UN member states. >> Read more about the SDGs

MDGs vs SDGs

There are 17 sustainable development goals with 169 targets in contrast to the 8 Millennium Development Goals with 21 targets. The complex challenges that exist in the world today demand that a wide range of issues is covered. It is, also, critical to address the root causes of the problems and not only of the symptoms.Read more »

The petition to name the human right to water and sanitation in the political Declaration of the Post-2015 Development Agenda we as DBN endorsed in May 2015, appeared to be successful!

On Sunday, 2 August, United Nations Member States unanimously agreed on the final text that will be adopted by Heads of State at the UN Summit to adopt the Post 2015 Development Agenda in late September. The Post­ 2015 Development Agenda will shape official development policy for the next 15 years. The Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 on universal access to water and sanitation.

School year has started! Sadly despite the global effort to ensure education for all, still 121 million children and adolescents do not attend school. SAVED BY THE BELL is this amazing initiative of VIA Don Bosco to raise the awareness of our kind, their parents and teachers about the education difficulties their peers experience all around the world.

In developing countries more than one child in four does not finish the last year of primary school. These are mainly young people from poor families, especially girls, and young people from rural areas. Also, ethnic minorities and young people with disabilities are often excluded from the education system. Worldwide, 250 million children cannot read, write or count. Nevertheless, half of them have followed basic education.

It is not enough to show only compassion for the fate of these young people, deprived of quality education. Action is needed! We must demand that Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is respected everywhere: “Everyone has the right to education”.

As citizens it is our duty to not only show our solidarity with students and teachers around the world, but also to let our voices be heard. Together we request those in power to emphasize on the necessity of better access to quality education and the resources needed to achieve this.